Art School Confidential

Art School Confidential

There’s a new art school in town with a mission to train creative young talents for careers in food, fashion, film, photography and design. This is the first Missouri location for The Art Institutes, a chain of more than 50 for-profit schools across the nation.

The new school, located in St. Charles, offers Bachelor of Arts and Associate degrees in culinary arts and management, digital filmmaking and video production, digital photography, fashion marketing, graphic and web design, and interior design. The fully accredited institute operates on a four-quarter system like most colleges, but through focused study programs, students can earn degrees in three years instead of four. There are also other differences that set The Art Institute apart from other St. Louis colleges and tech schools offering similar degrees, says Campus Director David Hofmann. All instructors at the school have both teaching and professional experience, and some class sessions last up to four hours, allowing students time to create under the guidance of their teachers. The institute also boasts proactive career assistance for students, helping them prepare portfolios and build their networks.